NCJ Number
208847
Date Published
2004
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This review of racism within British urban educational settings applies the findings to rural educational settings.
Abstract
A number of British studies conducted in the last decade have found racial prejudice to be endemic in schools. A study conducted in predominantly White schools throughout the United Kingdom found high levels of name-calling and racist verbal abuse against students from ethnic minorities, both within the school setting and in traveling to and from school. None of the schools involved in the study had successfully designed and implemented curricula that addressed cultural diversity, and the majority of the teachers did not understand the concept of a multicultural approach to the delivery of educational materials. Various research findings provide a baseline from which schools in a rural setting can address and/or prevent racism in school settings. Examples include clarity regarding a school's stance on racism, adopting streamlined procedures to address racist language or behavior, and ensuring that the type of offense committed and the age of the pupils involved are taken into consideration. Fundamental to the development of a school climate of intolerance toward racism is strong leadership from senior management that ensures the establishment of key objectives and targets for the school that staff, students, parents, and the wider community understand. 5 notes and 27 references